Transform Your Home Before the 4th of July: 6 Quick Fixes for Instant Impact!

For many people, the 4th of July is a time to gather with friends and family, BBQ, and watch fireworks. It is also the perfect opportunity to make sure your home is in tip-top shape before the celebrations begin! Here are 6 home improvement projects to do before July 4th.

1. Clean the deck

More likely than not your deck is probably in need of some TLC. Between the weather, the sun, and daily wear and tear, you may be surprised at how dirty your deck really is. Once you have removed all the furniture off of your deck it is time to start cleaning!

Pressure Washing

If you are looking for something quick and convenient, pressure washing is for you. If you do not own a pressure washer yourself, many hardware stores have rental options. However, if you are looking to buy one here is a list of good options.

Essentially, pressure washing uses high water pressure to blast away any dirt, mud, sand, etc... from your deck. According to Decks.com "Less is more" when it comes to pressure washing.

The pressure washer serves as a mechanism to remove embedded dirt and other contaminants.

Excessive forces on the wood will remove much more than those pollutants you want to be removed. Many times you can clean your whole deck in just minutes with a pressure washer.

Manual Cleaning

If you do not have a pressure washer or feel uncomfortable using one another option is to clean the deck manually in just a few easy steps!

• First, remove all furniture off the deck.
• Sweep any debris off the deck. Be sure to remove anything that is stuck in-between the slats.
• Use a garden hose to finish up. If you really want to get a good clean apply a deck wash before rinsing off with the hose.

2. Get Your Lawn Ready!

Here are a few lawn care tips to make sure that your yard is ready for the celebration (for this I am going to assume that you already have a finished lawn. If not, click here for ideas on how to start one).

Bring Out the Lawn Mower

Is your lawn looking similar to the great plains of Africa? If so, it is time for a haircut. However, before you commit to cutting the grass as short as possible be sure to check out these recommendations from HGTV. Basically your goal is to cut off on the top third of the grass.

Pull Weeds

My father is obsessed with getting rid of all weeds in the yard. In fact, every weekend during the summer you will likely see him out there with his special weed pulling device (similar to this). It does make the lawn look much nicer!

Water, Water, Water!

Your grass needs water to grow and look healthy. But there is no reason to overdo it. According to HGTV, you need to "water once a week but make sure you water deep". To water deep means to make sure that soil 8 inches down is wet. For more information check out this article about watering deep.

3. Trim the trees

If your trees have dead branches, are getting too tall, or have low branches that are obstructing, it is time to prune them. Get out your shears and start getting rid of any unruly branches. For more information about pruning trees check out these simple tips from treepruning.com.

4. Check Your Outside Faucets

Now that winter is far behind us it is time to check your outdoor faucets. If you had shut off your water valve to the faucets, it is time to turn it back on for future water balloon fights and car washes. Make sure that there are no leaks or cracks (although it may not seem like a huge deal it can waste a ton of water).

5. Add color to your house.

Could the walls in your house pass for a hospital hallway? Then it is time to add some color! Accent walls are a great way to help a room come to life. Whether you want to add a bright blue or keep it classic with a cream color, there are plenty of options available! This Benjamin Moore site is a great place to start planning your home's look.

6. Check your air conditioning unit.

The last thing you want is for your guests to be uncomfortably warm during the summer months. Be sure to take the time to check your AC and make sure it is working properly.

If you ever need help with your air-conditioning or other home improvements contact Skovron Mechanical Services LLC. today. We are located in the Manchester, NH area. Call today at (603) 922-4037!